Gone are strong veteran presences on the Giants’ defense such as safety and former captain Landon Collins, EDGE rusher Olivier Vernon and known commodities like cornerback Eli Apple.

As Jenkins and the rest of the Giants defense enter the second year in a new scheme, defensive coordinator James Bettcher is leaning on the veteran cornerback as well as safety and captain Michael Thomas to show rookies DeAndre Baker, Julian Love and second-year contributors such as Grant Haley and Sean Chandler the ropes.

“Janoris has been not great but unbelievable with our young guys,” Bettcher said Wednesday. “He has had great, teachable moments where as a coach you just have to let it go. You are starting to go coach the young guys and he is already on it. I see the ownership in year two that he is starting to take with those guys. It is outstanding and it is going to help us be a better defense”

In addition to Jenkins’ new-found role as player-coach among the cornerbacks, Thomas says that there is real value in allowing the players to take ownership of helping teach the young players on the field and in meeting rooms.

“The coaches have been doing a great job of teaching," Thomas said Tuesday night at the United Way Gridiron Gala, where hew as being honored for his charitable contributions in the community. "And explaining, they’re understanding that with some of the age difference in our secondary that you’re going to have to rely on players to coach up a little bit, as well. The fact that our coaches are allowing us to do that at this early stage, is a blessing. We have a great group, now we just have to get to work.”

Entering just his second year in a Giants uniform, Thomas has a simple message for the younger players in the secondary room.

“Trust your technique," Thomas said. "Listen to your coaches and there are some things you can learn from these players. You can learn from Janoris. You can learn from (Antoine) Bethea, you can learn from myself and watching what I do. Being able to help those guys come along, we’re going to depend on them. We’re going to need them when the season comes.”

Last season, Haley emerged late in 2018 as one of the Giants’ highest-graded defenders and was the team’s highest-graded cornerback while Chandler saw snaps at safety in the final quarter of the season.

This year, Haley, Chandler, Baker, Love, Sam Beal and sixth-round pick Corey Ballentine will be fighting for roles and snaps while Bettcher and the coaching staff try to forge an identity in the secondary.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’ve got a great group," Thomas said. "These kids are eager to learn and they’re ready to compete.”